Reading Is All There Is

This is a very delayed book review. I actually finished reading the book on January 29th. A lot has happened since. I started uni again, my sister got engaged, and finally I was hospitalised because my appendix ruptured. It's been wild. But I still want to write a small review so here are some of my thoughts on "Harry Potter & the Prisoner of Azkaban": In the third book of the Harry Potter series, everyone is on edge because the magician Sirius Black has escaped Azkaban. This is a prison for the worst criminals and no one has escaped before. The word is that Sirius Black is an ally of Lord Voldemort and he is after Harry Potter. At Hogwarts, security measures are taken seriously as dementors are gatekeeping the school on lookout for Sirius Black. Meanwhile, Harry is happy being back at Hogwarts. While focusing on his good friends and playing quidditch, he also stays attentive to the possible threat of Sirius Black. Harry also learns more about his parents and their p...

A Little Life is the saddest book I have read in my life. I've watched numerous TikToks of people crying over it and I was curious to know why. I'm an emotional person so I do like reading heavy books, but this was an entirely different level. I feel like you have to be in a good mental state to read it. For me, it was the opposite. I was already depressed, but it was kind of helpful because I thought well at least my life isn't like Jude's . Jude is one of the main characters in A Little Life . The beginning of the novel follows him and his three friends Willem, JB and Malcolm. We learn about their whole lives beginning in college. The author takes us through their struggles and ultimately shows us what true friendship and love is about.  I wish I could give Jude a hug. I don't want to spoil too much about the novel, but many people already know that this book is a lot to handle because the character Jude goes through so much pain. In my opinion, I think he goes t...

Salama lives in war-torn Syria. Her parents and brother were brutally taken away from her. The only family she has left is Layla, her pregnant sister-in-law and bestfriend. Every day Salama risks her own life by going to work at the hospital. Although she was only in her first year of uni studying to become a pharmacist, the war forced her to perform the work of a doctor. Another consequence of the war is Salama's hallucinations. Every day she sees Khawf who reminds Salama of all the horror she has endured. He wants her to leave Syria, but she is reluctant. Then Salama meets Kenan who changes things. He gives her hope.  In the novel, we read how Salama is torn between staying in Syria and leaving for a safer future. She wants to stay in Syria to help and treat the wounded civilians and freedom fighters, but she also made a promise to her brother that she would get out of Syria. What does one do? Stay and fight? Or leave and fight from the outside? Salama is conflicted, starved and ...

Monique Grant works as a journalist, but she wants to write more stories of her own choosing. One day she gets the exclusive chance to interview the famous Hollywood icon, Evelyn Hugo. No one else has ever had the chance to interview her so this is a once in a life time opportunity to really get to know Evelyn Hugo and the story behind her 7 marriages. The novel is build up of these interviews where Evelyn goes through each marriage while explaining her rise to fame.  I honestly only read this novel because of the hype that it received on TikTok. I must say that I did enjoy reading it. It was fast-paced and entertaining. It also give me insight into what the movie industry used to be like and how many challenges actors encountered - especially actresses. Evelyn Hugo did not have an easy upbringing and she fought her way to the top - oftentimes having to use dirty tricks. Almost all of her marriages were basically ways for her to rise to fame or get ahead career wise. Only one marri...

Sidenote: I am currently studying abroad in Aberystwyth, Wales, and I found this novel in Poundland for 1,50 pounds. The cover and title are what really sold me. Actually, the cover reminds me of the beautiful seaside in Aberystwyth, and the whole idea of borrowing a bookshop is genius. Jude Crawley never got to attend college at the same time as her peers. Her grandmother was ill and Jude was the only person who could care for her since her own parents were busy at their family owned bakery. This meant that Jude had to put a hold on her own dreams.  When we meet Jude, she has graduated from college at the age of 29. She took her English degree part time and is happy because she believes that she can now date her college professor Mack. Sadly, she finds him cheating with another young student and Jude is heartbroken. Another wave of shock hits her as her grandmother tells her that she wishes to move into the new nursery home in town. Jude's parents have also decided to sell t...

Nora Seed is depressed. She still lives in her hometown, Bedford, and has just been fired from the music shop where she has been working for years. Life doesn't seem to mean anything to Nora anymore and she decides to take her own life. This is when she wakes up in the Midnight Library where she is met by her former librarian, Mrs Elms, from her early school years. The library is full of books that are all the possible lives Nora could have. Mrs Elms tells her that she can try out her different lives and stay in the one life that she really wants. First, Nora must look inside "The Book of Regrets" which is quite literally a book full of Nora's minor and major regrets throughout her life. This gives her some perspective as she goes to live out her many lives. In some of them she is an Olympian champion, a wife, mother, pub owner, or a famous musician. In one life she lives in Australia where she finds out that her best friend, Izzy, has died. In another life, her decea...

My heart still hurts from reading Chain of Iron . It was just that good. That is one of the reasons why I love reading so much. I think it is beautiful how words in a book can make me feel so many things. Especially works of fiction. Cassandra Clare is one of my all-time favorite authors. Her books can always get me out of a reading slump. She has an amazing way of writing and creating worlds and characters that you grow to care and love. I've been reading about the Shadowhunter-universe since I was in middle school. I'm in university now and I still feel the same love and excitement for the universe. Cassandra Clare's books will always have a very special place in my heart! Chain of Gold  picks up where we left off in the first book of the Last Hours- trilogy. James and Cordelia are preparing for their wedding. It is supposed to be a joyful day, however, the only reason why they are getting married is to save the reputation of Cordelia who protected James when he was accus...

Harry Potter is finally back at Hogwarts to begin his second year. He is happy to be with his friends and to learn more about magic. Danger soon arises at the school when a message on a wall reads that the "Chamber of Secrets" has been opened. It reveals that the heir of Slytherin will kill students from muggle families. This creates great fear which is heightened when attacks on students start occurring. Harry, Ron and Hermione begin to investigate who the heir of Slytherin is and how to stop the attacks. Along the way, Harry discovers even more things about himself.. Yet again I am amazed by J.K. Rowling's writing style. She has written a great story in an intriguing and fun way. I found myself laughing out loud and smiling at some points. It was fast-paced and entertaining all the way through. I especially like the way that some dramatic scenes with more action were described in a way that mentioned all the important aspects without unnecessarily long descriptions. It ...

Okay, so I finally did it. I read a Harry Potter book. It's been a long time coming, but I was never really interested in the stories until almost a year ago when I started my English major. I felt like it was a mistake that I had not read or even watched any of the Harry Potter movies. Or my fellow classmates made me feel that way, but it's okay. I actually did try to watch all of the movies with one of my friends. But we never finished. And I guess, I just lost interest. But I tried to give the movies a chance half a year ago and I was hooked. After watching the movies I got the sense that there were a lot of things left out - as is usual with movie adaptions. And I hate that. I need to know everything so here I am starting on the books. So far I am very invested! Here's a short summary: Almost all his life, Harry Potter has lived with the Dursleys who have made his life difficult. Harry's  room is a small closet space underneath the stairs. He only wears his cousin D...

If you don't know, Cassandra Clare is my all-time favorite author. Her work never disappoints me and it always reminds me of how much I love reading. Clare has a way of instantly pulling you into her Shadowhunter-Universe where you begin to feel all the same things as her incredible characters. She also amazes me in the way that she writes and creates characters with so much depth. I have an eternal love for everything Cassandra Clare has ever written!  "The Last Hours" is a new series in the Shadowhunter-world where we encounter some old and new characters. The first book is called "Chain of Gold" and we follow the lives of Will and Tessa Herondale's children, James and Lucie Herondale, along with their good friends Matthew Fairchild, Cordelia Carstairs, Christopher and Thomas Lightwood and many many more! If ever you were a fan of "The Dark Artifices" this is a series for you!  In "Chain of Gold" Cordelia Carstairs moves to London with ...

Patroclus and Achilles are best friends. And lovers. After committing a violent crime, the former prince, Patroclus, is exiled from his homeland and sent to live under the care of king Peleus. His son is the beautiful Achilles who is known as "the best of all the Greeks". His mother is the sea goddess Thetis making Achilles all the more special. Patroclus and Achilles quickly develop a strong and unbreakable bond. When the Trojan War breaks out, Achilles decides to fight and Patroclus follows him. While questions of pride and honor will challenge the couple, their love for each other is stronger. What a great story! I shed tears while reading it and that means that I was moved by it. This is one of my reasons for reading. To be moved. The story of Achilles and Patroclus is beautiful, but also tragic as one will learn. The novel is a rewrite of Homer's "Illiad" ( which I have not read), but "The Song of Achilles" is about the love story of Patroclus an...

Krishan is the name of our main character. A Tamil man who was born in Sri Lanka, but moved to India to study. By doing so, he automatically distanced himself for the ongoing civil war. In India he has a short-lived romance with Anjum that still lingers in his mind even months after their breakup. Krishan has moved back to Sri Lanka and lives in Colombo with his mom, grandma and Rani, his grandma's caretaker.  In the beginning of the novel, we learn that Rani has suddenly passed away. Krishan is invited to the funeral which takes place in the North of Sri Lanka. This takes Krishan and the readers on a journey to the north of Sri Lanka and through Krishan's mind as he thinks back on his time in India, through his relationship with Anjum and his guilt for not being in Sri Lanka while a civil war was going on.  Reading this novel was a special experience. The language was poetic and it is clear that the author has studied philosophy as he displays this through Krishan's reflec...

One of my best friends since middle school gifted me The Secret Garden for Christmas last year. At first I was just in love with the beautiful cover. It was not long before I realized that The Secret Garden is actually a children's book. And what a great one it is! I really enjoyed reading it. I loved the characters, the detailed descriptions of their development and the beautiful nature surrounding them.  The Secret Garden  tells the story of young Mary Lennox who spends her first years of life in India. She never really shares any time with her parents and she knows nothing of love and affection. Mary is not a kind little girl. She even looks unpleasant. Unhappy really. Mary does not know how to dress herself. Hunger and exhaustion are also unfamiliar to her. When the girl losses both her parents to cholera, she is sent off to live in her uncle's great mansion in Yorkshire. England is Mary's first encounter with a colder climate. This is where she learns how to behave and...

The story takes us to Afghanistan where we first encounter the young Rahima. She is the third out of five girls in her family. In Afghanistan, and many other cultures, it's unfortunate and even shameful not to have any sons. Rahima's father does not hide his disappointment. Along with his opium addiction, he makes life harder for his family - barely providing for them. From time to time, he takes his girls out of school because it isn't safe for them to go alone. The sisters are harassed by the men in their village. If only they had a son who could escort them. That's when Raisa, Rahima's mother, remembers an old tradition, bacha posh . It has been and still is practiced by families who don't have sons. Instead they take a young daughter, cut her hair, give her boy's clothes and turn her into a boy. This happens to Rahima and for a time, she is blessed with the freedom that only boys experience. Rahima's aunt Shaima tells the story of her great-great gr...

Red Queen  takes us to a dark future where the color of your blood determines the quality of your life. Silver blood makes you part of the elite. They have speciel abilities like being able to control fire or water. Some even have the power to control other people. Silvers live a content life as they oppress those who are born with red blood.  Reds are destined to a hardworking life with little to no luxuries. If they don't have a proper job at the age of 18, they are sent to war. A war between Silvers that is being fought by Reds. It's an unjust world. Mare Barrow is a Red girl. Her three older brothers have been sent to war and soon she will too. But then Mare finds out that she isn't like everyone else. In fact, she is able to do things no one has ever heard of before. Mare Barrow may be able to change the world as they know it.  Well what a crazy story. This dystopian world kinda scared me. It's one that shows us what could happen if we don't learn ...

Simon Snow is a magican. He's actually the Chosen One. This means that he is supposed to save the world of mages from an evil creature called the Humdrum. No one has actually seen this creature - other than Simon and his best friend Penelope Bunce. However, Simon is not a typical magician and he only learned about his powers at the age of 11. Even after almost 8 years at the magical school Watford, Simon is still struggling to control his magic. Baz Pitch is Simon's roommate and nemesis. They've had multiple battles and they both know that some day, one of them will kill the other. So when Baz doesn't show up for the first day of their last school year, Simon is worried. And bothered. What if Baz is planning some crazy scheme to kill him? I truly have so much love and admiration for this novel. It was such an easy and enjoyable read. Exactly what I needed right now! It's been a long time since a book has really captivated me the way Carry On did. The whole sto...

I can't believe it took me 4 years to read this book! I bought it while I was on a vacation on Sri Lanka in 2016. Me being me, I had convinced my family to go to a bookstore and I stumbled upon  The 7 Habits.... My aunt then told me that she had read it once and that I should get it. And so I did. I started reading some of the first chapters and I enjoyed it, but when school started again I set the book aside. To be honest, I've never read any "self-help" books before so it was new to me. I quickly felt lazy and started turning to my fiction novels again. Then the whole corona thing happened and I was looking for something to read. I actually hate when I don't finish a book. I own a total of 3 books that I would categorize as "self help" books. I've read the first few chapters of all of them, but never finished one. However, I did finish  The 7 Habits...! And that makes me proud. I read one chapter every day, and I loved it.  So basically what...

"The Tattooist of Auschwitz"  is the real wartime story of the Slovakian Jew, Lale Sokolov. He was a prisioner at the infamous concentration camp Auschwitz-Birkenau. This is also a story about love and how it managed to help Lale remain hopeful despite the tragic circumstances that he and millions of other individuals had to endure during World War II. When it is discovered that Lale speaks multiple languages he lands a job as the camp's Tättowierer. This meant that he had to tattoo all the prisoners. The job gave Lale a lot of perks which he didn't hesitate to share with the other inmates.  Then Lale meets the love of his life, Gita. Another Slovakian jew and prisoner. Lale makes a promise: he will survive this camp and he will go marry Gita. The novel takes us through the three years Lale spent at the camp and how he learned to survive even when everything seemed hopeless.  I still to this day cannot believe the brutality that took place during World Wa...

It's been quite a while and I actually finished this novel last month? Yeah, but I started school again and I've just been busy focusing on schoolwork and whatnot. It sucks because I've been neglecting my books and I love reading, so I'm gonna try to get back on track again! Okay, no more excuses, here is my short review: Set in Italy,"The House By the Sea" is a family history that takes us back and forth in time. At first we are introduced to the young Floriana who is amazed by the beauty of a grand house in her village. She spends a lot of time admiring it. Although Floriana has not had it easy. She's been through a great deal of hardship. But when she encounters Dante, he seems to be the most beautiful thing she has ever set her eyes on. He is also captivated by the young girl and how lively she is. The two quickly bond and grow close. Fast forward some years and we are taken to a small town in England near the ocean. A grand hotel is owned by the har...

This novel truly deserves all the love and praise in the world! It's not often that I find myself captivated by a book from the first page, but Celeste Ng has really outdone herself on this masterpiece. The story of the Lee family is gripping, captivating and absolutely thrilling. I find it hard to put my love for this book into words because I know I would NOT do it any justice. So read it. Please.  "Everything I Never Told You" is a family portrait of the American-Chinese Lee family living in a small town in the 1970s. Marilyn and James have three children; Nathan, Lydia and Hannah. However, it is no secret that Lydia is the star of the family and her parents' favourite. Lydia is smart and kind. She does everything her parents tell her to do while she overshadows her two other siblings. Chaos breaks out when Lydia goes missing. Then she is found dead at the bottom of a lake and everything is put into question.  This story is so real and raw. And that'...